Ice making apparatus



F. W. SAMPSOIN ICE MAKING APPARATUS Ahnung..

7 SheeLs-Sheet l Filed Feb. Y l, 19541 F. W. SAMPSCJN ICE MAKINGAPPARATUS Filed Fab. l, 1954. 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. w. sAMPsoN @1% ICEMAKING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 www Mug. TA M5 F. w. SAMPSON ICEMAKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. l, 1954 .l FHM@ Aug 7 l956 F. w. sAMPsoN ICEMAKING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l, 1954 Aug. W W56 F. w.SAMPSQM ICE MAKING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fled. Feb. l, 1954 m- 71.1956 F. w. sAMPsoN CE MAKING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sham '7 Filed Feb. l,1954 IN V EN TOR.

fRfHULl( Wi SAMRSM United States Patent O FCE MAKING APPARATUS FrederickW. Sampson, Dayton, Ghio, assigner to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware yApplication February 1, 1954,Serial No. 407,201

Q Claims. (Cl. 62-106) This invention relates to refrigeration andparticularly to ice block producing apparatus.

Others have heretofore provided apparatuses for freezing water into iceblocks or cubelets which are then harvested from the apparatus. Many ofthese prior appararuses have not been entirely satisfactory. One of themain objections to certain of the prior apparatuses of this type is thatheat is applied to a portion thereof for releasing ice blocks therefromso that they may be harvested. The application of heat to such anapparatus complicates its construction, increases its manufacturingcosts and in addition to rendering the refrigerating system associatedtherewith less eilicient, since this heat must be removed by therefrigerating system before a subsequent freezing cycle taires place,also warms the ice blocks. The warming of ice blocks causes surfacesthereof to become wetted whereupon the released blocks will stiel; orbound together when they are collected in a receptacle or bin from whichthey are to be harvested. This bonding together of ice blocks or cubesrenders the task of harvesting ice blocks from an ice maker difficultsince the clumps of bonded together blocks or cubelets must be shatteredin order to obtain a plurality of separate individual blocks to beplaced in glasses containing drinks to be chilled. ln view of theforegoing it is contemplated to construct an ice block making apparatuswhich will overcome objections to former devices.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved ice cube or blockmaking apparatus of simplified construction and low manufacturing costs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ice cube or blockmaker wherein the cubes or blocks are released therefrom mechanically asdistinguished from applying heat to parts thereof whereby subsequentfreezing cycles may be initiated without delay.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ice making apparatusor device of this Vtype which produces small ice blocks or cubelets tobe placed in glasses containing drinks to be chilled wherein the iceblocks or cubelets are released from the same in dry form by either astretching or twisting and/ or a combined stretching and twisting actionof a resilient metal walled grid member of a two-membered ice blockfreezing device.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ice block makingapparatus with a freezing device including a support and a tray membercooperating with a flexible metal walled grid member wherein at leastthe tray member is pivotally mounted upon the support and is swingableby an operating means downwardly away from the grid member and whichoperating means renders other means incorporated in the apparatuseffective to flex resilient metal walls of the grid member in aplurality of directions and releases ice blocks therefrom.

ln carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object ofthe present invention to provide a device for freezing water into cubesor blocks and mechanically releasing them therefrom which devices may bereadily placed in a low temperature freezing compartment of ricerefrigerator cabinets now in use or may be permanently installed in newrefrigerators and to provide suitable means whereby ice block freezingoperations of the devices can be selectively controlled to causeintermittent and or continuous ice block producing cycles depending upona contemplated demand for ice blocks.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred forms of the invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of a portable freezing device portion of an icemaking apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top View of the freezing device shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an end view of the device disclosed in Figure l showing atray member and a grid member thereof in a normal freezing position;

Figure 4 is an end view of the device shown in Figure l with the traythereof slightly moved relative to its support to distort its walls andrelease the same from ice formed in the grid;

Figure 5 is an end view of the device shown in Figure l with the traymoved away from the grid and with ends of the grid about to engage ameans on the support of the device for stretching the grid and flexingits walls;

Figure 6 is an end view similar to Figures 3, 4 and 5 showing the trayand grid of the freezing device swung throughout a predetermined arcabout their pivotal mounting on the support of the device;

Figure 7 is a front View of the device in the position thereof shown inFigure 5 about to engage means on its support to stretch the grid;

Figure 8 is a front view of the device similar to Figure 7 in theposition thereof shown in Figure 6 with the grid fully stretched;

Figure 9 is a front view of a slightly modified freezing device portionof an ice making apparatus;

Figure l0 is an end View of the device disclosed in Figure 9 showing thetray and grid member thereof in a normal freezing position;

Figure ll is an end View of the device disclosed in Figure 9 showing thetray and grid thereof moved about their pivotal support;

Figure l2 is a view similar to Figures l0 and 11 showing the tray andgrid of the freezing device disclosed in Figure 9 swung their fulldistance relative to the support and showing the grid twisted;

Figure 13 is a front View similar to Figure 9 showing the grid stretchedand twisted with ice blocks released therefrom as is illustrated inFigure l2;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14--14 of Figure l0showing an ear on the end of the grid member of the freezing device;

Figure l5 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Figure l0showing a mounting tab on the end of the tray of the device; and

Figure l6 is a schematic showing of one of the ice making apparatusesherein disclosed diagrammatically applied to or built in a refrigeratorcabinet.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure l thereof one form offreezing device of an ice block making apparatus having the presentinvention embodied therein. This device may be readily disposed in thefreezing or frozen food storage compartment of refrigerator cabinets nowin use and wherein the temperature is maintained well below 32 F. Inthis form of ice block making apparatus a support for the freezingdevice thereof comprises a plurality of horizontal metal beams 11, aplurality of upright metal beams l2 and suitable connecting orreinforcing beams lil all welded or otherwise suitably securedtogether.` These metal beams il, l2 and 14 provide a framework having abase portion and an upright portion forming a support for pivotallymounting the freezing device of the apparatus thereon. A metal piece orhook 16 is rigidly secured to certain of the upright beams 1'2 at eachend' of the supporting framework and forms one part of a camming meansto be hereinafter described. A pair of metal pieces 1'7, rigidly securedto the uppermost horizontal' beam 11, carries a rod 18 upon which a pairof arms 19 are pivotally mounted and are slidable therealong. These arms19 are secured, as at 21,` to flat upper portions of a grid' member 22of the freezing device for pivotally mounting this grid member upon thesupporting framework. Grid member 22 includes resilient flexible metal'walls arranged in zigzag form. along the length thereof for a purpose tobe hereinafter described. Each end of grid 22 has a metal ear piece 24rigidly secured thereto and provided with a downturned angularlydisposed flange 26 (see Figures 7, 8 and 14) forming the other part ofthe aforesaid camming means adapted to. engage the metal hook pieces1'6. A resilient distortable metal walled tray member 28 of the freezingdevice has ears 29 welded or otherwise suitably secured to its one longside wall and these ears 29` are also carried by rod 18 for pivotalmovement relative thereto. A shaft 31, journaled in spaced apart metalpieces 32 secured to the beams of the support or framework, has links 33keyed or stationarily secured in any suitable or conventional mannerthereto and extending outwardly thereof. The outer end of links 33rotatably carries a stud 34 to which one end of another set of links 36is pivotally connected. The opposite end of each link 36 carries a pin37 which is connected to a bent metal piece 38 soldered or otherwisesuitably secured to the ends of tray member 28 of the freezing device(see Figures 1 and 15). Tray member 28 is pivotally mounted upon thesupport or framework of the apparatus by the ears 29 and the links 36for the purpose ofl swinging tray 28 about its pivotal mounting on thesupport relative to grid member 22. The links 36 also form a part of aholding means for normally retaining the freezing device in asubstantially horizontal plane with the tray member 28 thereofcooperating with the grid member 22 in such a manner that the grid isdisposed-` in the tray and its wallsk divide the interior thereof into arow or a plurality of ice` block forming compartments; Theholding meansin the present disclosure includes another link 41, similar to andaligned with link 33, having its one end attached to one ofthe studs 34at one endV of the support or framework. This link 41 has its other endkeyed or rigidly secured to a drive shaftJ 42A which is journaled in asuitable metal piece 43 welded to the support or framework of theapparatus. Drive shaft 42 is horizontally aligned with the long shaft31" and is adapted tobe rotated about the same axis therewith. Manuallyactuated means such as a crank or the like (not shown) can be attachedto the short drive shaft 42w for operating the freezing device or anelectric motor controlled in any suitable or conventional manner can beconnected thereto. A heavyv metal piece 44 welded or otherwise suitablysecured to the uppermost horizontal beam 11 has a depending portionextending down in front of tray member 28 and a roller 45 is mounted ona stud 46 at the lower end of the depending portion of piece 44. Astamped piece of metall 47 suitably secured to the frontside wallV oftray 28 is provided with a curved or rounded projection 48 which isassociated with roller 45 to form a cam or camming means for a purposeto be hereinafter described. Suitably bushings, spacers and pins areprovided throughout the apparatus to complete its construction and it isbelieved to be unnecessary to explain such. elements in detail herein.

Assuming that the freezing device, including the tray member 28 and gridmemberl 22, is held in a substantially.v horizontal plane. or in itsnormal ice. freezing position as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 and that.the' device has received water, from any suitable source, to be frozeninto ice blocks within the freezing or frozen food4 cornpartment of arefrigerator cabinet. The water upon freezing in the freezing device ofthis ice making apparatus becomes bonded to walls of both the gridmember 22 and the tray member 28. In order to release and permitharvesting of ice blocks from the freezing device short shaft 42, of thefreezing. device holding means, is rotated either mechanically or by anelectric motor under the control of a suitable or conventional timer.Rotation of driveshaft 42 rotates link 41', keyedZ thereto, and thislink simultaneously rotates stud 34 and links 33 and 36 at thek one endof the apparatus to rotate shaft 31. This rotation of shaft 31 alsorotates the links 33 and 36 at the other endy of the apparatus. Theinitial movement of rotation of the pair of links 36, of the holdingmeans for the freezing device, from the position shown in. Figures l, 2and 3 to the position thereof shown in Figure 4 forces the curvedportionv 48 of metal piece 47, on wall of tray 28, to ride over theroller 45' and thus cam the tray member to flex or distort its walls andbreak the ice bond between its walls and ice blocks adhering to Walls ofthe grid member 22 (see Figure 4). Continued rotation of the links 36,under the inlluence of the operatingmeans, swings the tray member of thefreezingV device about its pivotal mounting, rod 18, relative to thegrid member 22 and this continued rotation also causes the end of theshort links 33, connected to studs 34 to engage and apply a force to theend metal pieces 24 on grid member 22, to swing the grid 22, togetherwith ice blocks adhering to its walls, downwardly relative to thesupporting framework of the apparatus about its pivotal mounting uponrod 18 into the po-sition shown in Figures 5 and 7 of the drawings. lnthis position of the apparatus the angularly disposed or inclined flange26 of end pieces 24 on grid member 22 are about to engage the metalpieces 16 (see Figures 5 and 7). Further rotation of links 36, to swingthe tray member 28 about its pivotal. mounting throughout apredetermined arc, so as to locate the tray member in the position shownin Figures 6 and 8 of the drawings also causes the end of links 33 toforce the angular or inclined surface of flange 26 of metal pieces 24,at the ends of grid member 22, over the metal pieces 16 on the support.The action resultingfrom ilanges 26 engaging the other part of thecamming means or pieces 16 and sliding over the surface thereof is anextension of the grid 22 longitudinally of its length and a stretching.of its eXible metal walls. The pivotal mounting arms 19 of grid member22 are arranged along rod 18 so that they can move lengthwise therealongand permit' such stretching of the grid. Stretching of the grid member22 momentarily distorts its resilient metal walls and such distortioneXes the walls and breaks the bondbetween ice blocks and these wallswhereupon the ice blocks are mechanically released from the grid asdistinguished from applying heat to the device. Tray member 28 havingpreviously been swung from beneath grid member 22, in advance of theswinging of this grid member (see Figure 6), permits the released iceblocks to fall into a receptacle which may rest upon the bottom of thefreezing compartment of the refrigerator cabinet and from which the iceblocks can be harvested.

The final rotation of drive shaft 42 of the apparatus is utilized tomove elements thereof from the position shown in Figures 6.and Bof thedrawings to their normal position shown irl-Figures 1, 2, 3 and 16. Thisfinal rotation of shaftI 42. moves-the links 33 past the endpieces 24on: grid member 22 and causes the links 36 to pull upwardly onthe trayymember 28 which then reverses its swinging movement. The reverseswinging movement of tray 28causes the same to engage the grid memberand, with the grid member in the tray member, both are swung back intotheir normal substantially horizontal position as shown-in Figures l, 2,3 and4v 16. Curved portion 48 `stretched and twisted.

`and tier. its resilient metal walls.

5 of metal piece 47, on the front side of tray 28, rides upwardly overthe roller 45 to render the tray wall ready to be sprung or distorted bya subsequent operation of the apparatus. In this respect it is to benoted that the rim of tray member 28 is cut away `as at`49.(see Figures2, 7 and 8) to permit the same to clear the roller 45 and support 44while being moved past these elements. Upon stopping the drive shaft 42of the apparatus in the position shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 16 thisshaft together with its associated links 33, 36 and 41 form the holdingmeans for normally maintaining the freezing device portion of theapparatus, including the grid member 22 and tray member 2d, in itsnormal substantial `horizontal position. The apparatus may nowbeimmediately readied for another ice block freezing and releasingoperation by again placing water in the freezing device portion thereof.

While the apparatus heretofore described embodies the feature ofstretching the grid member to liex its resilient or flexible walls inreleasing ice blocks therefrom it may be preferred to provide anapparatus which will twist a grid to flex its walls. ln this type ofapparatus twisting of the grid member can be accomplished withoutstretching the same or such twisting can be a part of flexing the gridincorporated in an apparatus in which it is also stretched. By bothstretching a exible resilient metal walled grid and twisting the samefrom end to end thereof a more effective release of ice blocks from itswalls is obtained and thus the likelihood of ice blocks remaining bondedto walls of the grid member of a freezing device ot' the type disclosedis entirely eliminated. I therefore in Figures 9 to l5 inclusive `of thedrawings show a modified version of the invention incorporated in anapparatus wherein the resilient walls of a grid is both to l5 two cams59A and 50B, separate from the links 33', are suitably secured or keyedto thefshaft 31'of the freezing device holding means and are employedto` `engage the metal pieces 2d' at the ends of resilient metal 24', areso shaped that as the grid member 22' is moved or rotated about itspivotal mounting on the supporting frame they cam the end pieces 2d' ofthe Vgrid member `outwardly away from one another to thus stretch theelongated grid member 22 longitudinally of `its length A stop arm 50Crigidly secured to the supporting frame, at one side `thereof, isdisposed in the path of swinging movement of grid 2,2. A stop stud 50Dis rigidly secured to the located (see Figure 9). Stop stud 50Dispositioned a further distance around the arc oftswinging movement tofgrid member 2 from the outer end of stop arm fstiC (see Figure itl), fora purpose to bepresently described. Cam fit'iA is preferably so shapedor is of such configuration that it will swing the one end of gridmember 22 down or about its pivotal mounting a greater distance overthat which the other cam 56B will swing `the zigzag flexible metal wallgrid. ln other words cam 50B is designed to swing the one end of grid22' intoengagement with stop arm .JliCi and hold it against this armwhile the other cam 56A applies a further force to the opposite end ofgrid member 22' to push it against the stop stud 50D. The force appliedto or the extraor additional movement imparted to this opposite end ofgrid 22', by cam SttA, while the one end of the grid is held againststop arm SGC, causes the resilient zigzag metal walls ot grid member 22to be twisted throughout its length during or shortly after it isstretched. A more or less degree of twisting of the grid member, inaccordtion of stop arm 50C relative to stop stud 50D, may if In theapparatus of Figures 9 i desired be provided in this modified apparatus.

Also, if desired, suitable metal tabs 50G may be secured to the exteriorupper side wall surface of tray member 28 (see Figure 9) so as tostrike, when the tray member is swung down relative to grid `member 22',certain ice blocks adhering to walls of the grid. Metal tabs 50H (seeFigure 9) may also be secured to certain upper iiat wall portions ofthetlexible gridmember 22 so as to obtaina better bond of ice blocks tothe grid rather than to walls of the tray. i t

,fkssume that the freezing device, including the` tray member 28' andgrid 22' of the modified apparatus disclosed in Figures 9 to 15inclusive, is held in a substantially horizontal plane as shown inFigures 9 and 10 with water placed therein frozen and it is now desiredto harvest ice blocks therefrom. Short shaft 42', of the freezing deviceholding means, may be rotated manually by a crankor by an electric motorastwill be described hereinaftei. Rotation of shaft 42' rotates link 41'and this link rotates the studs 34' and links 33' at opposite ends ofthe apparatus by revolving shaft 31'. This rotation of the freezingdevice holding means also revolves the cams 50A and 50B keyed upon shaft31'. As the long links 36' move through the axis of shaft 31', duringinitial movement of the holding means, they force the metal piece 47' ontray 28' past roller 45' and this camming action distorts walls of traymember 28' to break the bond between the tray and ice blocks bonded oradhering to walls of the grid member 22. Continued movement of theholding means of the freezing device swings the tray member 28 about itspivotal mounting beneath grid member 22' and to one side thereof (seeFigures l1 and 13). This continued movement also simultaneously rotatesthe cams 50A and 50B, on shaft 3l', into engagement with the end pieces24 on grid member 22' and forces the tianges 26' thereon downwardly overthe inclined camming sides: of the metal forks or pieces 16', secured tothe support or framework of the apparatus (see Figures 1l and 13).` Theresilient i grid walls are flexed and grid 22 is stretched or extendedlongitudinally of its length during rotation thereof about its pivotalmounting relative to the supporing framework (see Figure 13). Inaddition to the flexing and stretching of grid member Z2' this modifiedversion of the Vinvention is provided with means for further flexing thegrid walls by twisting them, In this modified apparatus further swingingof grid member Z2', by cams 50A and 50B, is provided and this furthermovement causes the end of grid 22' at the cam end 50B of the apparatusto strike the stop arm 50C. While came 50B holds the one end of grid 22'in engagement with stop arm 50C, continued rotation of shaft 31' andconsequently cam 50A thereon causes cam 50A to apply an additional forceto the other end of grid member 22 opposite the cam 50B (see Figure ll)over that required to extend the grid. This additional force applied tothe grid pushes the end of the grid 22', at the cam 50A end of theapparatus, down into abutment with the stop stud 50D to thereby cause afurther liexing of the resilient metal walls of grid 22' which twiststhe grid from end to end thereof as shown in Figure 13 and as indicatedat E and F in Figure l2 of the drawings. The twisting of grid 22' andflexing of its resilient metal walls in this additional direction breaksall ice bonds between its walls and ice blocks to thusrelease the iceblocks from the grid. The

tabs 50G on tray members 28' cooperate with the twisting motion impartedto grid member 22' since they strike certain of the ice blocks bonded tothe grid, as the tray swings from the position thereof shown in Figurel1 to its position shown in Figure 12 and linsures removal of ice blocksfrom the grid. Continued rotation of the holding means for the freezingdevice by the operating means in the present apparatus causes cams 50Aand 50B to ride over and past the end pieces 24 on` grid 22 whereuponthe cams become ineffective as the links 33', 36'

andy 41 travei upwardlyy toward their normal position of stop., This.nak travel of: the links; 3:3", 36 and' 4.1i. reversesthe: direction ofswing of' the.y tray' member and lifts thev samey upwardly. The tray28ilthereupon engages grid 22 and. both. are' swung or moved back to normalvposition to replace the, freezing device' in a substantially horizontalplane shown in. Figures 9I and 10 ofv the drawings. The. meansvincluding; shafts: 31 and 42.', links 33', 3.6 and 4'1ff'orming; holdingmeans for the freezing device having been stopped in the: positionshown: inv Figuresl 9 and l()K of. the draiwings; readies. the apparatusanother ice blockfreezing. and releasing operation.

Either' the freezing device. disclosed in Figures l to 8 ofv the:drawings or the freezing device disclosed in Pigures. 9% to; 15 thereofmay be embodied in an automatic continuous operating ice. makingapparatus. Thus i show in. Figure 16k of the drawings a diagrammaticalrepresentation of' they freezing. device disclosed in Figures 1 to 8incorporated in an automatic and/or semiauntomatic ice. makingapparatus. Referring now to Figure 16v of the drawings; the ice makingapparat-us shown therein.v is. provided with: a. suitable control whichselectively determines. operation of the.` apparatus. to produce one ormore single. independentl icey block. forming and'v releasing cycles.and/or continuous ice block form'- ing and releasing cycles.A In thisillustration the apparatusl is. built intoy a portion of the freezing orfrozen food; storagey compartment of a refrigerator cabinet and walls ofsuch: a compartment a-re designated byl the reference character 51.v Thereference characters heretofore applied toparts of the apparatus shownin Figures l to 8 inclusive of the drawings will be employed todesignate similar' parts of the apparatus disclosedA iny Figure. L6.. Inthe form of apparatusI shown in Figure 16 a' refrigerant evaporator of arefrigerating system associated witha thev frozen: foodcompartment of arefrigerator cabinet, such as refrigerant evaporating conduitssurrounding andv embracing walls 51 of the compartment, as is common inthe art may include an extension. in. the form. of a stationary sharpfreezing metal plate portion represented'.` at 52 and adapted to bed'irectly contacted by' upper flat portions of the iiexible met-a1zigzag. walls of. thel grid. member 22. This plate portion 52' of theevaporator lies along the freezing device portion of the apparatus infront of the metal pieces 129, which pivotally mount the grid member 22to the rod 181, and has suitable conduit connections (not shown) with:theother portion of the evaporator of the refrigerating system. Theshaftv 31.', drivingly connecting the spacedl apart; linksA 332, is.provided with a gear 53 having a pinion: andiY shaft. connection,diagraminatica-lly represented' by the reference character 54, with acam 56. Rotation of shaft 31 revolves. pinion andi shaft 54 and causescam- 56I to revolve andk move a follower roller 57 engaging the same soas to operate a water valve, generally represented by the referencecharacter 58, of a: water' supply means for the. freezing device `of theapparatus. Valve 582 has a conduit 59 connected thereto andv leadingytol the freezing device of the apparatus for discharging water into thesame. This water supply means is located exteriorly of the compartment51 and forms no part of the present invention since it is the subjectmatter 'of' my copending applicationentitled Metering Device, Serial No.407,202', filed February l', 195.4y anda assigned: to the: assignee; ofthis application. An electric motor: 7:3-, employed to rotate the shortdrive shaft 42, is, wired through a combination selector andelectrically operated timer or chronometric means 7.4 of any suitable;'orl conventional construction. This combination device 744: isIpreferably provided. with. two= push buttons. 7'6 and?. 77' and may be:so. constructed as to normally be: under the; control; of button 76= to=cause the apparatus. tofunction to;1 produce continuousl cycles ofoperation for freezing' Water in: theV freezing device portion thereof?into ice blocks; and to; releaseY the ice blocks.`

therefrom. The combinati-on dev-ice 74 isy preferably constructed andarranged so that pushingl of button 77 will render the part or pa-rtsthereof controlled by button 76 ineffective. and cause the apparatus toproduce.- a single ic'e block freezing, and releasing cycle.. Theapparatus williremain under the control of button 77 to produce:sing-le, cycles; of operation, upon successively pushing, the same,until the button 76 is again= pushed. Combination device 74; is adjustedor pretimed tostart and stop operation of electric motor lf3y inaccordance with the lapse of time required to freeze water in thefreezing device into ice. Anyl suitable or conventional means can beprovided to render the combinationselector and timer device 74- of theapparatus ineffective to stopy the release of ice blocks from thefreezing device thereof. rEhe provision of such means will prevent theaccumulation of an excessive number of ice blocks in the compartment ofthe refrigerator cabinet when the demand for icc blocks is not present.An' ice cube or block receptacle or conta-incr '7-9v is supported onthebottom wall of the freezing or frozen food compartment 51: of therefrigerator cabinet for receiving and storing ice blocks releasedfron-i the freezing device of the apparat-us. Ifn `order to harvest iceblocks from the refrigcrater the door to compartment 51 may be openedand icebloeks removed from the receptacle 79;

Assuming that a predetermined amount of water has flown into, the tray28- of the. freezing device of the apparatus disclosed in Figure 1'6from the water supply valve 58V and that the apparatus isplaced undercontrol of the single cycle but-ton 77, by pushing the same, with therefrigerating system associated with the refrigerator cabinety operatingto: produce a below freezing tempera.- ture of the evaporating plateV52.. The combination selector andt timer device 74 is thereforeenergized and after predetermined interval of time 4of operation, to

y insure the freezing of water in the freezing device into ice blocks,this time device will connect the electric motor 73 with the source ofelectric current supply to cause its operation.. Operation of motor 73rotates the drive shaft 42, link'. 451,. stud. 34, links 33 and 36 atthe motor end 'of the apparatus and consequently shaft 31 and the link33,. stud 34 and link 36 at the opposite end' of the apparatus. Rotationof shaft 31 rotates the gear 53 thereon to rotate. the pinion shaft 54and cam 56, As the links 36. rotate about the axis of studs 34downwardly relative. to they axis of shafts 31 and 42' they force traymember 28 of the freezing device lof the apparatus toswing about itspivotal mounting on rod 18 away from the grid member 22 and ice blocksbonded or adhering thereto (see Figure 7). Thereafter the ends of links33- engage the end pieces 24 on grid member 22 to swing the grid aboutits pivotal mounting on rod 18 away from the stationary refrigeratorevaporator plate 52 and causes the inclined ange 26 at the ends of gridmember 22 tofrictionally slide downwardly over the sidewall surface ofthe stationary metal pieces 16. As the inclined surface of flange 26 onpieces 24 slide over pieces or cam rneansr 16 the grid member 22 of thefreezing device is stretched and extended longitudinally of its length:to flex its resilient metal zigzag walls while the tray member 28 isbeing swung from beneath it in advance of the grid member by the links36. Flexing of walls of the grid member 22 breaks the ice blocks loosetherefrom and these substantially dry released ice blocks clear the traymember 28 as they fall into the container or receptacle 79. If theapparatus disclosed in Figures 9f to l5 of the drawings is incorporatedin the system shown in Figure: 1'6 the grid member 22 will also betwisted from end tol end thereof to insure a more positive breaking.- ofthe bond between its resilient walls and ice blocks adhering thereto forreleasing the blocks whereupon. they fall into the container 79.Continued rotation of shaft 42 and other rotating partsI connectedtheretol .reverses the@ swinging motion of tray member 28 and thismember then picks up and carries the grid member 22. back into itsnormal position in a substantially horizontal plane with the griddisposed in the tray and contacting the stationary evaporator 52. Therotating cam 56 comes into play, just prior to a complete rotation ofthe shafts 3l and 42 into a position to hold the freezing device of theapparatus in its normal location, and therefore actuates the lever 6l toopen valve 58. Water will now flow from valve 58 through conduit 59 intothe freezing device wherein it will be subsequently frozen into iceblocks. As the lobe of cam 56 moves past roller 57 operation of theapparatus is stopped by timer i4 and the shafts 42 and 31 together withthe links form the means for normally holding the freezing device in asubstantially horizontal plane. Also when the lobe on cam 56 passesroller 57 lever 61 is moved to cause the valve 58 to close and stop theflow of water into the freezing device. Additional individual singlecycles of operation of the ice making apparatus will take place whenbutton '77 of timer device 74 is again pushed or continuous automaticcycles will loccur if the button '76 is pushed. lt is desired to againpoint out that either of the freezing devices herein disclosed can beincorporated in a system of control as diagrammatically illustrated inFigure 16 of the drawings to flex the grid walls and stretch the gridlengthwise and/ or twist the grid after its walls have been flexed andthe grid extended.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the present inventionprovides improved ice block making apparatus for a refrigerator of thehousehold type. By

i flexing the resilient walls of a grid member of a freezing device asherein disclosed ice blocks can be released therefrom in dry form tothus eliminate sticking or bonding of the blocks together at the pointthey are collected for harvesting from the apparatus. By this inventionthe application of heat in any form to an ice block freezing device ofan ice making apparatus is dispensed with. In apparatus of the typeherein disclosed ice blocks may be produced in small quantities or theapparatus can be quickly converted to successively and continuouslyproduce a large quantity of ice blocks automatically when the demand forsuch blocks exists. Apparatus of this invention can be actuated with aminimum of force to thereby utilize a small electric motor for operatingthe same.

While the forms of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. ln an ice making apparatus, the combination of a stationaryrefrigerant evaporator, an elongated freezing device adapted to containwater to be frozen including a tray member and a grid member havingWalls dispose-d in said tray member for dividing the interior thereofinto a plurailty of ice block forming compartments, a support for saiddevice, means associated with said support for normally retaining saiddevice in a substantially horizontal plane with a portion thereofcontacting said evaporator during freezing of water in the device intoseparated ice blocks in said compartments, said device being pivotallymounted on said support, means for rotating said device together withseparated ice blocks therein about its pivotal mounting relative to saidsupport and said stationary evaporator, and means rendered effective byrotation of said device for stopping the rotation of one end of one ofsaid members thereof while continuing to rotate its other end wherebysaid one member is twisted longitudinally thereof from end to end toflex its walls and release ice blocks from the device.

2. In an ice making apparatus, the combination of a stationaryrefrigerant evaporator, an elongated freezing device adapted to containwater to be frozen including a tray member and a grid member havingresilient metal walls disposed in said tray member for dividing theinterior thereof into a plurality of ice block forming compartments, asupport for said device, means associated with said support for normallyretaining said device in a substantially horizontal plane with a portionthereof contacting said evaporator during freezing of water in thedevice into separated ice blocks in said compartments, said device beingpivotally mounted on said support, means for rotating said freezingdevice together with said grid member and separated ice blocks thereinabout its pivotal mounting relative to said stationary evaporator and tosaid support, means for breaking a bond between the tray member and iceblocks therein and for separating the tray member from ice blocks whichadhere to said grid member upon rotating said device, and means forthereafter exing the resilient walls of said grid member by stretchingsame lengthwise thereof for enlarging said compartments and releasingwithout the aid of additional means ice blocks therefrom.

3. In an ice making apparatus, the combination of a stationaryrefrigerant evaporator, an elongated freezing device adapted to containwater to be frozen inclu-ding a tray member and a grid member havingresilient metal walls disposed in said tray member for dividing theinterior thereof into a plurality of ice block forming compartments, asupport for said device, means associated with said support for normallyretaining said device in a substantially horizontal plane with a portionthereof contacting said evaporator during freezing of water in thedevice into separated ice blocks in said compartments, said device beingpivotally mounted on said support, means for rotating said freezingdevice together with said grid member and separated ice blocks thereinabout its pivotal mounting relative to said stationary evaporator and`to said support, means for breaking a bond between the tray member andice blocks therein and for separating the tray member from .ice blockswhich adhere to said grid member upon rotating said device, and meansfor thereafter twisting said grid member from end to end thereof andflexing its resilient metal Walls for releasing ice blocks therefrom.

4. in an ice making apparatus, the combination of a stationaryrefrigerant evaporator, an elongated freezing device adapted to containwater to be frozen including a tray member and a grid member havingresilient metal walls disposed in said tray member for dividing theinterior thereof into a plurality of ice block forming compartments, asupport for said device, means associated with said support for normallyretaining said device in a substantially horizontal plane with a portionthereof contacting said evaporator during freezing of water in thedevice into separated ice blocks in said compartments, said device beingpivotally mounted on said support, means for rotating said freezingdevice together with said grid member and separated ice blocks thereinabout its pivotal mounting relative to said stationary evaporator and tosaid support, means for breaking a bond between the tray member and iceblocks therein and for separating the tray member from ice blocks whichadhere to said grid member upon rotating said device, and means forthereafter iiexing the resilient metal walls of said grid member bystretching same lengthwise and twisting the walls from end to end of thegrid member to release ice blocks therefrom` 5. ln a method of releasingice blocks from a reezing device including a resilient metal pan havinga flexible walled grid therein dividing the pan into ice block formingcompartments and wherein the pan and grid are pivotally mounted forswinging movement relative to a stationary refrigerated member which aportion of the device contacts during freezing of water therein intoseparated ice blocks within said compartments, the steps comprising;simultaneously rotating the pan and grid of the device about theirpivotal mounting away from. the:- sta tionary refrigerated member,distorting the resilient pan during initial stages of rotation of thedevice to free the pan froml ice blocks adhering to the grid, stoppingthe rotary movement of the grid and ice blocks while continuing torotate the pan with respect thereto, and finally flexing the walls ofthegri'd to release ice blocks therefrom.

6i In a method of releasing ice block-s from a freezing device includingaresil'ient metal pan having a flexible walled grid therein; dividingthe pan into ice block forming compartments and wherein the'pan and gridare pi-v=- @tally mounted for swinging movement relative to a stationary refrigerated member which a portion of the de'- vice contactsduring freezing of water therein into sep arated ice blocks within saidcompartments, the steps comprising; simultaneously rotating the pan andgrid of the device about their pivotal mounting away from thc stationaryrefrigerated member, distorting the resilient pan duri-ng initial stagesof rotation of the device toy free the pan from ice blocks adhering tothe grid, stopping the rotary movement of the grid and ice blocks whiiecontinuing to rotate the panwithrespect thereto, and finally stretchingthe grid to extend' its flexible walls longitudinally and enlarge saidcompartments for releasing ice blocks therefrom.

7. In a method of releasing ice blocks from afreezing device including aresilient metal pan having a iiexible walled grid therein dividing thepan into ice block forming compartments and wherein the pan and grid arepivotally mounted for swinging movement relative to a stationaiyrefrigerated member which a portion of the device contacts duringfreezing of water therein into separated ice blocks within saidcompartments, the steps comprising; simultaneously rotating the pan andgrid of the device about their pivotal mounting away from the statonaryrefrigerated member, distorting the resilient pan during initial stagesof rotation of the device to free the pan from ice blocks adhering tothe grid, stopping the rotary movement of the grid and ice blocks while*con tinuing. to rotate the pan with respect thereto, and finallystretching the grid to extend its exible walls longitudinally andtwisting same from end to end of the grid for releasing ice blockstherefrom.

8i.. In an ice making apparatus, the combination of an' elongatedfreezing device adapted toA contain water' to be frozen including a traymember and a gri-d1 member disposed therein dividing the interiorthereof into a plurality of iccblock. forming compartments, a stationarysupport for said device, meansI associated with said' support normallyretaining: said device in a horizontal plane. during freezing of watertherein into separated ice blocks in said compartments thereof,v saiddevice being pivotally mounted on said support, means for simultaneouslyrotating said tray member and said grid member together with ice blocksinA said' device about said pivotal mounting relative to said support,means associated with saidstationary support engageable by one of saidmembers upon rotation of said device,v and engagement of said one memberwith said last named means causing said rotating mea-ns to move an endof said one member relative to they other end thereof in the directionof rotation of said device to twist said one member throughout itslength for releasing. the separated ice blocks therefrom.

9*. ln an ice making apparatus, the combination of a stationaryrefrigerant evaporator, an elongated freezing device adaptedto containwater to be frozen including a tray member and a grid member disposedtherein dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice blockforming compartments, a support for said device, means for normallyretaining said device in a substantially horizontal plane with a portionthereof contacting said evaporator during freezing of water in thedevice into separated ice blocks in said compartment, said devicebei-ng, pivotally mounted on said support, means for rototing: said traymember and said grid member together with ice blocks: in said deviceabout said pivotal mounting relativev to said stationary evaporator, andmeans for thereafter causing relative movement between the ends of oneof said' members in the direction of rotation of said device to twistsaid one member throughout the length thereof for releasingthe separatedicc blocks therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSy2,023,047 Cole Jan.. 14, 1936 2,161,321 Smith lune 6, i939 2,265,349Cole Dec. 9', 194i 2,364,559' Storer Dec. 5, i944 2,701,453 HendersonFeb'. 8, 1955

